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PTWoody said..
Sparx, I reckon you're being a little harsh on canoeing. I bet they could run an excellent surf comp.

and an even better event for racing

if canoeing Aus were in charge of the racing side of our sport I believe they could hold some cracking state and national titles..
firstly it could be a weekend or week long of racing festival dedicated to the racing side of the sport. that frees up surfing Aus to really grab onto and grow Sup surfing.
- Flat water sprints in lanes on olympic type racing lakes. which almost every major city has.
- Tech racers in the most suitable ocean conditions for the area
- Marathon race either Down wind ocean, or the many rivers. lakes or bays most citys all have.
- All held over one event.

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AndyR said..

PTWoody said..
Sparx, I reckon you're being a little harsh on canoeing. I bet they could run an excellent surf comp.

and an even better event for racing

if canoeing Aus were in charge of the racing side of our sport I believe they could hold some cracking state and national titles..
firstly it could be a weekend or week long of racing festival dedicated to the racing side of the sport. that frees up surfing Aus to really grab onto and grow Sup surfing.
- Flat water sprints in lanes on olympic type racing lakes. which almost every major city has.
- Tech racers in the most suitable ocean conditions for the area
- Marathon race either Down wind ocean, or the many rivers. lakes or bays most citys all have.
- All held over one event.

So is there any reason this couldn't or shouldn't happen, it would certainly allow SA to concentrate on what they do best and what is best for sup surfing.

I don't know mick... I'm just a computer worrior throwing out ideas really hahaha..
Glad it got a few green thumbs though means a few think the way I do about it all..

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micksmith said..

AndyR said..

PTWoody said..
Sparx, I reckon you're being a little harsh on canoeing. I bet they could run an excellent surf comp.

and an even better event for racing

if canoeing Aus were in charge of the racing side of our sport I believe they could hold some cracking state and national titles..
firstly it could be a weekend or week long of racing festival dedicated to the racing side of the sport. that frees up surfing Aus to really grab onto and grow Sup surfing.
- Flat water sprints in lanes on olympic type racing lakes. which almost every major city has.
- Tech racers in the most suitable ocean conditions for the area
- Marathon race either Down wind ocean, or the many rivers. lakes or bays most citys all have.
- All held over one event.

So is there any reason this couldn't or shouldn't happen, it would certainly allow SA to concentrate on what they do best and what is best for sup surfing.

Surfing Australia and the ISA will not let go of racing. They regard racing as their key to the Olympics. The sad irony is that canoeing could probably get SUP racing into the Olympics tomorrow if they really wanted to whereas the surfing fraternity will take at least another two Olympic cycles.

In terms of nationals, Surfing Australia also likes to sell both racing and surfing to sponsors as a full package single event.

Agree PT, though theres nothing stopping C.A. Or anybody else From setting up an holding their own sup events ie: state titles and national titles is there??
This could be done. This would give paddlers the choice and I'm sure if the events were headed up and ran by "SUP" passionate people (backed by canoeing Australia funding etc) they could make a cracking event that would interest the pro's and the avivd sup nuts who just love the sport. Such event could easily become more important on the calendar than what's currently on offer as a national titles.

Saying all that. I reckon those WA guys have their heads screwed on right about the direction of this sport and the ability to hold great events and if next year the Nationals is in WA there's a good shot at actually making it one cracking event... If surfing aus let the WA crew take control.

I've been on this forum way to much this weekend... Must go paddle tomorrow

At a state level, Canoeing Victoria included a SUP category in local races and also their state titles marathon event for the last 3 years. Over the first couple of years, there were more SUP entrants in the Caneoing Victoria state titles than there were in the Surfing Victoria state titles. It was gaining some traction but then Surfing Victoria decided to lean on a few people, and as a result, this year, a few people bowed to the pressure, the event attracted very few entrants, and now the relationship with Canoeing Victoria and SUP is effectively over. So that's what happens when you get peak bodies fighting turf wars... everybody loses.

Canoeing Australia included us in there national titles this past February at Penrith NSW titled Australian Flatwater Sup Fest
A great event well run and well participated.
They ran 200m , 1000m and a 5000m.
I would have thought this style of racing would be better suited to the Olympics than the marathon and tech race.
They also said they would include us again next year at the W.A. venue.

Hi Andy R

AuSUP has a (MoU) partnering agreement with Australian Canoeing (AC) along with it's primary affiliation with Surfing Australia. We also are recognised by AOCRA and Australian Surf Life Saving as the primary SUP advisory board in Australia.

AC runs the AuSUP Australian Flatwater SUPfest for us. This is a great event held around Australia - in the exactly the format you mention, short course sprints 200m, 1000m and 5km. It's in its 3rd year next year and will be held here in WA in April at Champion Lakes.

The general feeling we have received from paddlers, is they like to travel for events, but they can't afford extended time off. As an event organiser myself, the primary consideration has to be given to optimal weather conditions - given the fantastic number of disciplines we have - surfing, flatwater, DW, Tech racing, it is almost impossible to try and co-ordinate all of these at the same time of the year - as they are mutually exclusive (except perhaps surfing and Tech Racing).

Flatwater racing suits a buoyed course and having an experienced organisation such as AC running this style of event is both cost effective and efficient. Surfing Australia run a tight Surf Nationals and are world leaders in this style of event management. It makes sense to get the best to suit our specific needs. There are many long distance flatwater events around Australia (Harry's Paddle, Great Melbourne Paddle, etc) and fun events to choose from (Merimbula, Fig2Fig).

Not everyone does or wants the same thing from SUP, which is why it is such a brilliant sport. The people that attended the SUPfest were different from the ones that attend the Nationals - which was the purpose of the SUPfest event. Next year we are hoping that everyone will come across for 3 events in WA:
1. The Australian Flatwater SUPFest
2. The SUP Nationals
3. The King of the Cut

Not expecting the same people to come to all 3, but we have tried to ensure the conditions are spot on to suit the best outcome.

Hope to see you at the SUPfest Andy!

Cheers

Greg

PS - I should add, SUPWA has a great relationship with our local canoeing body CWA as well as our surfing body SWA. No fighting here between to two. This is also true of AC and Surfing Australia - Surfing Australia actually endorse the SUPfest Flatwater titles.

www.supracer.com/2015-aussie-titles-isa-worlds-big-problem/

because I like to stir...

Sup racer just said what I was thinking...

10 of Aussies best male paddlers
2 of Aussies best female paddlers
not going to be at the National Titles....